This invaluable index, by two distinguished genealogists, has long been regarded as one of the most important sourcebooks in Tennessee genealogy. It documents over 41,500 entries covering all 62 counties for which antebellum estate records have survived. It is arranged by surname, so the entire list of wills of any given family in the state can be found under one heading. With few exceptions, the names in the index were taken from microfilmed copies of the original county records.

"Anecdotes, tidbits and documents to provide insight into the lives of members of the Peterson, Freeland, gardner, Snider, Hurt and many other families of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Also, data on the Arnold family of Texas, the Ochs family of Tennessee and New York, the Wilder family of Vermont, the Barr family of Pennsylvania, and many others."--Back cover.

"In the mid 1730's the Frydig's/Fridig's left Switzerland ... Two families arrived in South Carolina in 1735 ... This book will document the early settlers in South Carolina and follow [the Friday name] to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and California."--Introduction.

CD-Rom is word-searchable copy of the text.